APPROVED PROGRAM OF PRACTICAL NURSING - CHAPTER 21. STATE BOARD OF NURSING

§ 21.171

. [Reserved].

Source

The provisions of this § 21.171 reserved July 1, 1983, effective July 2, 1983, 13 Pa.B. 2061.

Immediately preceding text appears at serial page (26492).

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§ 21.172

. Establishment.

(a) A controlling agency may be a hospital, educational institution or combi-nation thereof. The controlling agency desiring to establish or conduct an approved program of practical nursing shall submit a written proposal to the Board. If the practical nursing program is in the public school system, the pro-posal shall be submitted to the Board through the Department of Education, Bureau of Vocational Education.

(b) A controlling agency desiring to establish a program of practical nursing is required to:

(1) Employ the nurse administrator of the educational unit at least 6 months prior to the intended admission date of students. Board approval of the nurse administrator’s credentials shall be obtained prior to the appointment.

(2) Employ teaching faculty for the educational program at least 1 month prior to the initiation of their teaching responsibilities.

(3) Submit 15 copies of the tentative planned educational program to the Board at least 4 months prior to the intended admission date of students.

(4) Complete a feasibility study which shall include:

(i) Sufficient statistical data to support the need for a program within the community and to assure availability of an adequate supply and flow of interested candidates.

(ii) Identification of available clinical resources for program implemen-tation based on the projected enrollment and faculty. In viewing the clinical resources, the study shall speak to other nursing programs that share the teaching facilities identified in the study.

(iii) Letters of intent from the cooperating agencies indicating positive commitment to the nursing program and the availability of sufficient clinical resources to meet the educational requirements of the program.

(5) Submit 15 copies of the feasibility study and the written decision of the health planning agency, if obtained, to the Board for approval.

(1) Organization and administrative policies of the controlling agency.

(2) Educational preparation and nursing experience of the faculty members employed.

(3) Statement of philosophy and objectives of the program.

(4) Proposed curriculum including detailed course descriptions and identi-fication of clinical areas of practice.

(5) Admission policies.

(6) Educational standards.

(7) Advisory committee membership and functions if one is appointed.

(8) Copies of written agreements with cooperating agencies and facilities to be used in the program. A cooperating agency is any educational or health-care delivery system.

(9) A copy of the proposed budget projected.

(10) Administrative structure and functions of the practical nursing pro-gram.

(d) Following the review of the practical nursing program and before final Board action is taken to grant permission to recruit students, an initial facility survey will be made by a Board’s nursing education advisor.

Authority

The provisions of this § 21.172 amended under section 506 of The Administrative Code of 1929 (71 P. S. § 186); and section 8 of the Practical Nurse Law (63 P. S. § 658).

Source

The provisions of this § 21.172 amended July 1, 1983, effective July 2, 1983, 13 Pa.B. 2061.

Immediately preceding text appears at serial pages (26492) and (26493).

§ 21.173

. Discontinuance or interruption of a program of practical nursing.

(a) Written notification of intent to discontinue a program of practical nurs-ing shall be submitted to the Board within a reasonable period of time, but not less than 6 months prior to a discontinuance.

(b) When a class is not admitted in a given year, the practical nursing pro-gram shall close unless approval has been granted by the Board based on the jus-tification for continuation as submitted to the Board.

(c) If a practical nursing program is discontinued, it is the responsibility of the controlling agency to provide for the completion of the program for students currently enrolled either by placing the students in an approved program or con-tinuing the enrolled class until completion. If the program is continued until graduation, approved and qualified instruction shall be assured.

(d) The controlling agency also has the legal responsibility to make provi-sions for permanent retention of student and graduate records in conformity with

§ 21.233 (relating to custody of records).

Authority

The provisions of this § 21.173 amended under section 506 of The Administrative Code of 1929 (71 P. S. § 186); and section 8 of the Practical Nurse Law (63 P. S. § 658).

Source

The provisions of this § 21.173 amended July 1, 1983, effective July 2, 1983, 13 Pa.B. 2061.

Immediately preceding text appears at serial page (26493).

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ORGANIZATION AND ADMINISTRATION OF PRACTICAL NURSING PROGRAMS

§ 21.181

. Administrative authority.

(a) The practical nursing program shall be established as an educational unit of the controlling agency.

(b) The authority and the administrative responsibility for the program shall be delegated by the governing body of the controlling agency to the registered professional nurse in charge of the program.

(c) The organizational plan for the program of practical nursing shall provide for relationships with the governing body of the controlling agency, individuals and cooperating agencies responsible for and participating in the program opera-tion.

(d) Adequate funds shall be allocated and properly budgeted for sound and effective operation of the program.

(e) The faculty shall formulate policies which relate to the operation of the program.

(f) Approval by the Board shall be obtained before the educational unit in practical nursing may utilize a new clinical agency for learning experiences. An Agency Data form, provided by the Board, shall be submitted for each new clini-cal agency. A cliniclini-cal agency is one in which cliniclini-cal experience can be obtained.

Authority

The provisions of this § 21.181 amended under section 506 of The Administrative Code of 1929 (71 P. S. § 186); and section 8 of the Practical Nurse Law (63 P. S. § 658).

Source

The provisions of this § 21.181 amended July 1, 1983, effective July 2, 1983, 13 Pa.B. 2061.

Immediately preceding text appears at serial page (26494).

§ 21.182

. Advisory committee.

(a) If an advisory committee exists, the membership shall consist of represen-tatives from practical nursing, professional nursing, general education and other community groups. The nurse in charge of the practical nursing program shall be a member of this committee.

(b) The function of this committee is to act in an advisory capacity to the faculty and as a liaison group between the faculty, the agency and the commu-nity.

Authority

The provisions of this § 21.182 amended under section 506 of The Administrative Code of 1929 (71 P. S. § 186); and section 8 of the Practical Nurse Law (63 P. S. § 658).

Source

The provisions of this § 21.182 amended July 1, 1983, effective July 2, 1983, 13 Pa.B. 2061.

Immediately preceding text appears at serial page (26494).

§ 21.183

. Budget.

Budgetary funds shall be allocated by the controlling agency to administer the program effectively. The nurse in charge of the program and the administrative officers of the controlling agency shall prepare an annual budget based on desired needs for growth and change.

Authority

The provisions of this § 21.183 amended under section 506 of The Administrative Code of 1929 (71 P. S. § 186); and section 8 of the Practical Nurse Law (63 P. S. § 658).

Source

The provisions of this § 21.183 amended July 1, 1983, effective July 2, 1983, 13 Pa.B. 2061.

Immediately preceding text appears at serial page (26494).

§ 21.184

. Cooperating agencies.

(a) The agreement between the program and each of the cooperating agencies shall be written and signed by the administrators of the program and the cooper-ating agency and shall identify the responsibility and authority of each party. The agreement shall be reviewed annually and a copy of the current agreement shall be filed in the office of the Board.

(b) Approval of the cooperating agency shall be secured prior to the place-ment of students within the agency.

(c) Before an established program changes its clinical facilities through a new or additional cooperating agency, Board approval of the agency is required. A request shall be presented to the Board in writing. Upon receipt of the request, the Board will require information to be submitted on an Agency Data form and returned for review and action. Final approval of the cooperating agency will depend upon a survey of the facilities.

ADMINISTRATIVE AND INSTRUCTIONAL PERSONNEL

§ 21.191

. Faculty and staff complement.

The minimum faculty and clerical personnel required in each program is as follows:

(1) A full-time nurse director or nurse coordinator.

(2) Full-time nursing instructors must be adequate in number to provide a maximum student-teacher ratio of 15 to 1 in the clinical area.

(3) Additional instructors consistent with the size and needs of the pro-grams.

(4) Adequate secretarial assistance.

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Source

The provisions of this § 21.191 amended March 25, 1977, effective March 26, 1977, 7 Pa.B. 841.

Immediately preceding text appears at serial page (26495).

§ 21.192

. Faculty qualifications.

(a) The qualifications of the nurse director or nurse coordinator shall be as follows:

(1) Graduation from an approved school of professional nursing.

(2) Current registration as a professional nurse in this Commonwealth.

(3) A baccalaureate degree, preferably in nursing, with experience in the areas of nursing, nursing education and educational administration. The nurse director or coordinator shall give evidence of ability to provide leadership and shall have a specific plan for completing work towards a master’s degree with evidence of consistent effort toward completion of the plan.

(b) The qualifications of the instructors shall be as follows:

(1) Graduation from an approved school of professional nursing.

(2) Current registration as a professional nurse in this Commonwealth.

(3) A baccalaureate degree, preferably in nursing, with additional prepara-tion for teaching appropriate to the teaching of practical nursing.

(4) Experience and skill in the practice of nursing.

(5) Nursing experience involving direct patient care or teaching experience within 2 years of employment. Faculty and instructors shall give evidence of maintaining expertness in clinical and functional areas of responsibility.

(c) The employment of less qualified instructors. Faculty or instructors with less academic preparation may be employed if qualified personnel is not available provided that less qualified faculty and instructors shall function under the direct guidance of a fully qualified faculty member and shall give evidence of continu-ing their academic preparation.

§ 21.193

. Faculty policies.

(a) The faculty shall be employed by and responsible to the educational insti-tution.

(b) Faculty members shall meet the requirements of the parent institution for faculty appointments.

(c) Policies, including personnel policies, in effect for nursing faculty, shall be those in effect for faculty members throughout the educational institution, with adjustments for differences that may be required in education for practical nurs-ing.

(d) Policies for selection, appointment and promotion of faculty shall be defined in writing.

(e) Functions and responsibilities of each faculty member shall be defined in writing.

(f) Full-time faculty of the nursing program may not carry responsibilities for administration, curriculum development or teaching for other types of educational programs, nor may the nursing faculty be responsible for student health services or first aid.

(g) Changes in status of faculty from full-time to part-time or vice versa shall be reported to the Board.

(h) The director or coordinator and nursing faculty of the program shall be afforded the time and opportunity to engage in leadership activities within their profession as are commensurate with their educational responsibilities.

(i) In determining teaching load of the faculty the following criteria shall be considered:

(1) Number of individual courses or units of study assigned with consider-ation of differences in scope and depth.

(2) Number and size of scheduled weekly classes, including laboratory and clinical teaching contact hours.

(3) Additional assignments relative to the functions and responsibilities of the faculty member; such as guidance of students, student evaluation, program revision, participation in activities of faculty organization.

(j) There shall be a planned and active faculty development program designed by the faculty to meet their perceived needs.

§ 21.194

. Faculty organization.

(a) There shall be a nursing faculty organization appropriate to the size of the group.

(b) Policies and rules of procedure of the faculty organization shall be in written form and shall be reviewed periodically by the faculty.

(d) Committees shall be established as needed to implement the functions of the faculty effectively, and the purposes and membership of each committee shall be defined clearly.

(e) Committee reports and faculty actions shall be recorded, filed systemati-cally and kept available for reference.

CURRICULUM

§ 21.201

. Philosophy, purposes and objectives.

(a) The philosophy and objectives of the program shall be formulated, agreed upon and implemented by the faculty and shall be in accordance with the philoso-phy and objectives of the controlling agency. The philosophiloso-phy and objectives of the program shall reflect the following:

(1) The belief of the faculty about nursing, practical nursing education and education in general.

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(2) The concept that practical nursing is an integral part of nursing.

(3) The fact that the educational needs of the students are being met.

(4) The concept of preparing a practitioner who shares in the giving of direct care to patients and who functions within the accepted roles of the L.P.N.

(b) The philosophy and objectives shall provide the basis for the develop-ment, the conduct and the evaluation of the total program.

(c) The expected changes in student behavior identified in the statement of objectives shall be realistic and attainable within the program of instruction.

Authority

The provisions of this § 21.201 amended under section 506 of The Administrative Code of 1929 (71 P. S. § 186); and section 8 of the Practical Nurse Law (63 P. S. § 658).

Source

The provisions of this § 21.201 amended July 1, 1983, effective July 2, 1983, 13 Pa.B. 2061.

Immediately preceding text appears at serial pages (26499) and (26500).

§ 21.202

. General curriculum requirements for practical nursing programs.

(a) The curriculum shall be designed to meet the stated objectives of the pro-gram.

(b) The program of study shall reflect sound principles of general education and practical nursing education.

(d) The curriculum shall be flexible enough to permit adaptations according to individual student needs as well as to changing concepts relative to emerging roles.

(e) The curriculum shall provide for instruction and practice in the care of selected individuals with different degrees of illness, with various types of inca-pacities and from all age groups.

(f) Scientific facts and concepts selected to be taught shall be limited to those that are essential as a basis for nursing action and are applicable to patient care.

(g) Learning experiences shall be selected and arranged to provide opportu-nity for the student to learn how to function within the role of the LPN and for the personal growth of students.

(h) Learning experiences shall focus on direct nursing care, and effort shall be made to arrange experiences in a pattern of logical sequence that demonstrates continuity of care.

(i) The plan of instruction shall enable students to develop understanding of the functions of the LPN within different patterns of nursing service.

(j) Course outlines shall include specific behavioral objectives anticipated and shall contribute to the objectives of the total curriculum.

(k) Learning experiences selected shall focus on the needs of the student and may not be structured to render service to the cooperating agency.

§ 21.203

. Specific curriculum requirements for practical nursing programs.

(a) The curriculum shall be based upon the philosophy and objectives of the program and shall be developed, implemented and evaluated by the faculty.

(b) The curriculum shall be organized and developed to include the knowl-edge, attitudes, skills and abilities necessary for the specific levels of student achievement.

(c) The curriculum shall be planned to promote measurable abilities, as con-tained in the Test Plan for the Practical Nurse Licensing Examination, published by Council of State Boards of Nursing, Inc.

(d) The curriculum shall provide instruction in the following areas:

(1) Physical and biological sciences, including appropriate content from basic human anatomy and physiology as well as elementary principles of chemistry, microbiology, physics and normal nutrition.

(2) Social and behavioral sciences including psycho-social facts and prin-ciples basic to personal adjustment and to nursing practice as well as appropri-ate content on the family and development stages from birth to senescence.

(3) Concurrent or sequential theory and clinical experience in:

(i) The care of patients with simple nursing needs.

(ii) The care of patients with short-term nursing needs.

(iii) The care of patients with long-term nursing needs.

(4) Clinical experience, as provided in paragraph (3), in the care of men, women and children in a variety of age groups with health problems character-istic of the age group involved.

(5) Theory, as required in paragraph (3), including appropriate knowledge from diet therapy and pharmacology, as well as scientific facts and selected clinical concepts which are essential as a basis for nursing action and are applicable to patient care.

(6) Learning experiences, as required in paragraph (3), providing opportu-nities for the student to:

(i) Develop an awareness of the needs of patients.

(ii) Learn to plan and give nursing care to selected individuals in vari-ous nursing situations that are relatively free of complexity.

(iii) Learn to plan and give nursing care to a group of selected patients.

(iv) Learn to assist the professional nurse in more complex nursing situ-ations.

(7) Content, as required in paragraph (3), drawn from information about ethical, moral and legal responsibilities of the practical nurse, current trends in nursing and health delivery systems and vocational development.

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(8) Technical and clinical aspects of immunization, skin testing, the perfor-mance of venipuncture and the administration and withdrawal of intravenous fluids to the extent each function is an authorized function of an LPN under this chapter. An IV therapy course must include instruction in the following topics:

(i) Definition of IV therapy and indications.

(ii) Types of vascular access delivery devices.

(iii) Age-related considerations.

(iv) Legal implications for IV therapy.

(v) Anatomy and physiology.

(vi) Fluid and electrolyte balance.

(vii) Infusion equipment used in IV therapy.

(viii) Parenteral solutions and indications.

(ix) Infection control and safety.

(x) Insertion of peripheral short catheters.

(xi) Administration, maintenance and monitoring of peripheral IV therapy.

(xii) Complications and nursing interventions.

(xiii) Central and peripheral vascular devices.

(xiv) Administration, maintenance and monitoring of central and periph-eral IV therapy.

(xv) Documentation.

(xvi) Patient education.

(e) The total curriculum shall include a minimum of 1500 hours offered within a time period of not less than 12 months. The Board recommends that a minimum of 40% of the total curriculum be theoretical and the remaining 60%

be in appropriate clinical experience.

(f) Evening and night assignments shall be considered part of the curriculum only in terms of the objectives to be achieved and if supervision is provided by the nursing faculty. Learning experiences during evening and night hours shall be planned only after the termination of the first 4 months of the program.

(g) Total hours of theory and clinical experience should be planned on a 35-hour week basis.

(h) The curriculum shall be evaluated according to a plan developed by the faculty and shall include the following:

(1) A careful review of aspects of the educational program based on the stated philosophy and objectives.

(2) A continuous evaluation of instructional procedures, learning experi-ences and student progress.

(3) Opportunities for students to participate in self-evaluation of their own learning experiences.

(4) Performance of graduates on the State Board Test Pool Examination.

(5) Opinions of graduates regarding the adequacy of their nursing program.

(6) Evaluation of graduates by their employers.

(7) A record system in operation which will assist in the evaluation of the educational program.

Authority

The provisions of this § 21.203 amended under section 506 of The Administrative Code of 1929 (71 P. S. § 186); and sections 8 and 17.6 of the Practical Nurse Law (63 P. S. §§ 658 and 667.6).

Source

The provisions of this § 21.203 amended July 1, 1983, effective July 2, 1983, 13 Pa.B. 2061;

amended August 4, 1989, effective August 5, 1989, 19 Pa.B. 3281; amended August 24, 2012, effec-tive August 25, 2012, 42 Pa.B. 5486. Immediately preceding text appears at serial pages (214458) to (214459).

§ 21.204

. Changes in curriculum.

(a) Changes that are a departure from the requirements of the program and which shall be submitted to the Board for approval include the following:

(1) Changes in the objectives of the program which require alteration of the present curriculum or courses or which increase or decrease the length of

In document CHAPTER 21. STATE BOARD OF NURSING (Page 86-103)